Online, the dead live on as digital ghosts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
You may have encountered some of them, perhaps without even knowing it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As more and more people pass away, their online profiles will soon outnumber the living ones, especially on Facebook.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This creates a lucrative opportunity for scammers and hackers who prey on the deceased and their friends and family.<\/p>\n
CLICK TO GET KURT\u2019S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS, AND EASY HOW-TO\u2019S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER<\/strong><\/p>\n A woman on Facebook.<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n MORE:\u00a0 HOW TO REMOVE UNWANTED PHOTOS INVADING YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n What is ghost hacking or ghosting?<\/strong><\/p>\n They\u2019re not trying to break into your account. They\u2019re using your dead relative or friend\u2019s account instead. It\u2019s a scam called ghosting. With cybercrimes already costing internet users $10.2 billion and more than 1.4 million cases of identity fraud reported so far this year, online scams are becoming more prevalent dangers in our lives.<\/p>\n Facebook account displayed on a laptop.<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n MORE: WHY IT’S HARD TO TRUST EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS FROM FACEBOOK<\/strong><\/p>\n Why do scammers use your deceased loved one\u2019s account?<\/strong><\/p>\n Losing a loved one is hard enough, but it can be even harder when their online identity is compromised by hackers. Hackers may try to access your relative\u2019s Facebook account to send spam, scam or malicious messages to their friends and family.<\/p>\n They may also try to steal their personal or financial information or use their account for other nefarious purposes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cybersecurity solutions company Check Point reported a 38 percent increase in global cyberattacks just last year.<\/p>\n A Facebook account displayed on a PC.<\/span> (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson\u00a0)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n MORE: INSIDE THE SINISTER CYBER RINGS HIJACKING FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS<\/strong><\/p>\n How to secure your deceased relative\u2019s Facebook account<\/strong><\/p>\n Step 1: Memorialize a deceased loved one’s account<\/strong><\/p>\n Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself. Facebook has a feature that allows you to memorialize your deceased loved one\u2019s profile.<\/p>\n This Facebook form lets you memorialize a loved one\u2019s page. All you need to do is provide some basic information and documentation.<\/p>\n Step 2: Request Facebook delete your relative\u2019s account after they pass away<\/strong><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t want your relative\u2019s Facebook account to remain online after their death, you can request that Facebook delete the account permanently. This will remove the profile, photos, posts, comments and messages from Facebook.<\/p>\n To do this, you need proof of death, such as a death certificate, obituary or memorial card. You also need proof of authority, such as a power of attorney, birth certificate or will. You can submit your request through this link. Facebook will review your request and delete your relative\u2019s account if it meets their criteria. This may take some time, so please be patient.<\/p>\n Deleting your relative\u2019s account is a way to protect their privacy and prevent hackers from accessing their account. However, it also means that you and their friends won\u2019t be able to see their memories or posts on Facebook. You should consider this option carefully before making a decision.<\/p>\n CIA REMINDS STAFF ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AFTER CIA OFFICER SHARES PRO-PALESTINIAN IMAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n Step 3: Use strong and unique passwords<\/strong><\/p>\n Create strong passwords for your accounts and devices and avoid using the same password for multiple online accounts. This will prevent hackers from accessing your personal information and assets, even if they manage to breach one of your accounts.<\/p>\n Consider using a password manager to securely store and generate complex passwords. It will help you to create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess.<\/p>\n Second, it also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills passwords in for you when you\u2019re logging into an account so that you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts.<\/p>\n Additionally, a password manager can help you to update your passwords regularly and delete any accounts that you no longer use. This will reduce the risk of your passwords being compromised by hackers or scammers who may try to impersonate you or your deceased relatives.<\/p>\n Get more details about my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2023 here.<\/p>\n Step 4: Use 2-factor authentication<\/strong><\/p>\n Another way to protect your relative\u2019s Facebook account from hackers is to enable 2-factor authentication (2FA) on their account. 2FA is a security feature that requires you to enter a password and a code sent to your phone or email every time you log in. This way, even if a hacker gets your relative\u2019s password, they won\u2019t be able to log in without the second factor. 2FA can make it harder for hackers to get into your deceased relative\u2019s account.<\/p>\n MORE: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SOCIAL MEDIA SCAMMERS<\/strong><\/p>\n Step 5: Report any suspicious activity to Facebook<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most important steps you can take to protect your relative from scams from beyond the grave is to report any suspicious activity on their Facebook account as soon as possible. Suspicious activity may include messages, posts, comments or friend requests that seem out of character, inappropriate or malicious. These may be signs that your relative\u2019s account has been hacked, compromised or impersonated by someone who wants to exploit their identity or reputation.<\/p>\n Reporting suspicious activity to Facebook will help them investigate the issue and take appropriate actions, such as locking, restoring or deleting the account. You can report suspicious activity on Facebook through this link.\u00a0By reporting suspicious activity to Facebook, you can prevent further harm to your relative\u2019s friends and family. You can also honor your relative\u2019s memory and protect their online legacy from being tarnished or misused by scammers.<\/p>\n GET MORE OF MY SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK TIPS & EASY VIDEO TUTORIALS WITH THE FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER \u2014 CLICK HERE<\/strong><\/p>\n Step 6: Use antivirus protection<\/strong><\/p>\n An effective antivirus software is a must-have to protect against scammers and hackers who prey on the deceased and their friends and family. The best way to protect yourself from clicking on any malicious links on Facebook, fake websites, in phishing emails and text messages is to have antivirus protection installed and actively running on all your devices.\u00a0 It\u2019s the best to help stop and alert you of any malware in your system and ultimately protect you from being hacked.<\/p>\n See my expert review of the best antivirus protection for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.<\/p>\n I’ve been scammed! What to do next?<\/strong><\/p>\n Below are some next steps if you find you or your loved one is a victim of identity theft.<\/p>\n 1) If you can regain control of your accounts, <\/strong>change your passwords<\/strong> and inform the account provider<\/p>\n 2) Look through bank statements and checking account transactions<\/strong> to see where outlier activity started<\/p>\n 3) Use an Identity Theft protection service<\/strong>. Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account.\u00a0They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.\u00a0Some of the best parts of using an identity theft protection service include identity theft insurance to cover losses and legal fees, and a white glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses.\u00a0See my review for <\/strong>Best identity theft protection services 2023 here.<\/strong><\/p>\n SCAMS TARGETING OLDER AMERICANS, MANY USING AI, CAUSED OVER $1 BILLION IN LOSSES IN 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n 4) Report any breaches<\/strong> to official government agencies like the Federal Communications Commission<\/p>\n 5) Get the professional advice of a lawyer<\/strong><\/p>\n 6) Alert all three major credit bureaus<\/strong> and possibly place a fraud alert on your credit report<\/p>\n 7) Run your own background check<\/strong> or request a copy of one if that is how you discovered your information has been used by a criminal.<\/p>\n If you are a victim of identity theft, the most important thing to do is to take immediate action to mitigate the damage and prevent further harm.<\/p>\n Kurt\u2019s key takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n Losing a loved one is hard, and making sure they\u2019re protected digitally once they\u2019re no longer here is probably the last thing you want to think about. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to make sure you take the proper steps to protect your profiles in advance. Use strong passwords, set up two-factor authentication and designate someone to make sure your accounts are properly memorialized or deleted.<\/p>\n How do you protect yourself on social media? Do you use a password manager or two-factor authentication? Are there other methods you use to ensure your security? Let us know by writing us at <\/strong>Cyberguy.com\/Contact<\/strong><\/p>\n For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com\/Newsletter<\/strong><\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/p>\n Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.<\/p>\n Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:<\/p>\n CyberGuy Best Holiday Gift Guide<\/p>\n Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com.\u00a0All rights reserved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Ghost](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1200\/675\/1-Ghost-busting-How-to-protect-yourself-from-scams-from-beyond-the-grave.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
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